Page:A tribute to W. W. Corcoran, of Washington City (IA tributetowwcorco00boul).pdf/84

 inspired with hope, is a tell-tale of the glory and fate of our nation. No.68. Portrait of Lasleyrie. A pleasant, intelligent old face, and the original likeness of this distinguished French economist and author; the first who formed a general museum of specimens of natural history and art to contain every article useful to man, either in its natural state, or its artificial preparation. Author of works on the merino sheep, cotton, &e. Painted in wax, at Paris, by Rembrandt Peale, for the Philadelphia Museum. No.69. Portrait of Thomas Sully—painted by himself. Successful with others, he has also proved a good artist for his own physiognomy. No.70. Iris (copy). Charming Goddess of the Rainbow! What is so beautiful or poetical as the arch of colors that sometimes suddenly fixes our gaze upon the heavens, and upon which we look almost amid tears, the rain drops lessening after the profuse shower? And what more appropriate to grace the name and thought of a rainbow than a lovely female form, with a spiritual glance and an air of beauty in the figure floating upwards to the sky. Iris is represented as rising from the landscape below, where is the outline of a cave with a tiny streamlet. The faint curve of the rainbow is encircling her limbs, and tending in the direction of her flight. The tinge of light in the colors is in accord with her floating tresses of gold, and the etherial like drapery sporting with the breeze. The beautiful arms of the figure are raised far above the head, as if in the high attainment of bearing aloft the golden flagon, and the pressure of one hand keeps afloat a cloud-like veil sweeping gently backwards, scorning to hide a face so fair. That face is turned toward the golden rays beaming in glad welcome to her approach. No.71. The Drought in Egypt, by F.